Does God change His mind in response to the prayers of His servants?
Some philosophical and theological arguments suggest that God cannot change His mind. However, the experiences of Amos and others who prayed throughout the Bible and history demonstrate that God does change His mind in response to the prayers of His people.
On two occasions God revealed to Amos what He was about to do. In response, Amos approached God, pleading for mercy on the people.
This is what the Lord God showed me: he was forming locusts at the time the latter growth began to sprout (it was the latter growth after the king’s mowings). When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said,
“O Lord God, forgive, I beg you!
How can Jacob stand?
He is so small!”
The Lord relented concerning this;
“It shall not be,” said the Lord.
This is what the Lord God showed me: the Lord God was calling for judgment by fire, and it devoured the great deep and was eating up the land. Then I said,
“O Lord God, cease, I beg you!
How can Jacob stand?
He is so small!”
The Lord relented concerning this;
“This also shall not be,” said the Lord God. (Amos 7.1-6)
Throughout history, God has used prophets to reveal to people what needs to be corrected in their lives. The last thing God wants to do is bring His judgment upon humankind.
When people repent, or when prophets intercede, God is pleased to change the outcome of judgment to blessing.
The word “relent” often conveys the idea of a deep, emotional change of mind or heart. It reflects a key truth that God’s judgment is not always final and unchangeable, but can be averted through repentance, prayer, or intercession.
The prophet and the priest actively stand between God and the people. They convey God’s will to the people, urging them to repent.
Meanwhile, they intercede for the people before God, seeking mercy for a sinful nation.
Followers of Jesus today, empowered by the Holy Spirit, are part of God’s priestly and prophetic tradition. We all have the privilege and responsibility to live as a royal priesthood.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2.9).
As we witness world events, we are not without power. Our role is to stand before God and plead, “God, have mercy on our world.”
Choose a global issue that deeply concerns you and dedicate time each day to discuss it with God.
Ask Him, “Lord, what is your purpose in this situation?” Then, pray for the fulfillment of God’s will in that context.
The Plumb Line
God gave Amos a vision of a plumb line. He used that vision to explain His will to the prophet.
This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand.
And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said,
“See, I am setting a plumb line
in the midst of my people Israel;
I will spare them no longer;
The high places of Isaac shall be made desolate,
and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste,
and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.” (Amos 7.7-9)
God consistently makes His will known to His people, eliminating any guesswork. The Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, the words of the prophets, and numerous other Bible sections serve as a plumb line in our midst.
This gift from God allows us to align our lives with His revealed will.
He is not a tyrant imposing His will, but rather a loving Father who understands what is best for His children and desires for us to follow it.
I can’t imagine anyone who would let a carpenter work for them who didn’t make sure that the walls were straight and everything was structurally sound for the house they were building.
When we think about our lives, we should do the same thing. We should take God’s plumb line of His revealed truth and allow it to guide our lives so that we live the very best life possible.
The passage in Amos offers two clear opportunities for its readers. First, it reminds us of our priestly role to intercede before God for the needs of the world.
Second, it encourages us to align our lives and prayers with God’s intentions, using His plumb line of revealed will as our guide.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
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